Virginia GOP ex-Governor to Campaign for Obama

[kpete]

Linwood Holton to Campaign For Obama
Tim Craig

Linwood Holton, Virginia's first modern Republican governor, will endorse Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) on Monday and start campaigning for him around the state.

Holton, who was in office from 1970 to 1974, is Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's (D) father-in-law. Kaine was one of Obama's earliest supporters.

Holton and his daughter, Anne, will campaign Monday and Tuesday in Southwest Virginia. The tour will be a homecoming for Holton, who was born in Big Stone Gap.

Holton, a moderate, has endorsed other Democrats in recent years, including Kaine and Mark R. Warner (D) during his 2001 bid for governor.

more at:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2008/...

[FrenchieCat]

1. Excellent!

And I don't blame him!

[Barack_America]

2. This is beautiful. Tim Kaine and his family have done so much for this campaign.

And continue to do so, even after not getting the VP nod.

I know that Kaine is more centrist than most of us here, but please recognize that, on a human level, this is a quality man.

And, as I recall reading, Holton is still quite popular in VA, no?

[d_b]

3. dooooope

[goodgd_yall]

4. It would be great if Obama got VIrginia

We could lost NM and CO and it wouldn't matter if he won Virginia (and that's assuming OH and FL are lost).

[electricmonk]

14. It's looking good

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=9010014

There's a new leader in the Presidential race in Virginia.

The latest exclusive News7 SurveyUSA poll shows Barack Obama now on top by four points. In the last poll conducted by Survey USA a week ago, John McCain led slightly.

The reason for the change: A shift by male voters, older voters and Independents toward the Democratic candidate.

Meanwhile, Virginia's Senate race seems locked in favor of Mark Warner. He continues to hold a more than 20 point margin over Jim Gilmore.

[Cha]

5. Rec'd! Those are the kind of

republicans who will be voting for Obama Biden! The thinking ones like Susan Eisenhower and Lincoln Chaffee, and now Linwood Holton

Come on Virginia

[JustAnotherGen]

6. Ut oh

The problem is . . . there's only a HANDFUL of actual live breathing and THINKING Republicans!!!!




(Teasing you! - but it is true. Those people don't really think for the most part! )

[Cha]

7. Yeah, let's start a list..

Susan Eisenhower, Lincoln Chaffee, Linwood Holton,

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Hmm

Thinking.


Thinking some more.


Thinking still.











Ulysses S. Grant? Oh wait - no . . .






Rutherford B. Hayes? Oh - wait - Compromise of 1877


I think your list sums it up!

[AkFemDem]

12. Has Nancy Reagan endorsed anyone yet? Stem cell research could get Obama a nod!

[grantcart]

8. I didn't realize he was a Republican lol

[yellowcanine]

10. Not really a Republican by today's standards.

[Gregorian]

11. This is awesome!

To paraphrase a post over at Daily Kos, if we get moderate republicans to switch over to our side, we'll be unstoppable.


This has to be the tipping of the scales here. Folks, don't quote me, but I think we have it in the bag now.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/15/202418/287/61/5...

And note the electoral estimates in the thread. Verrrrry good stuff.

[Waiting For Everyman]

13. Sweet! Go Virginia!

Virginia is so dominated with Repub Executive Branch employees living around DC, and the military base residents, and all the Repub privatized sub-constractors... it's very hard to overcome. But this so cool, it'll definitely help!

Maybe this is Virginia's year to break free and be the decisive state!

[TheDonkey]

15. Wow, that's great news for Obama.

[fujiyama]

16. Is this guy still popular in the state?

I suppose he can't be too unpopular considering his son in law got elected as governor.

Good news. Looks like Obama has something going for him in VA. It's going to be tough and close. But it's nice to see it's still very much in play. With the efforts put in place in the state, this could be state that wins it for Obama.

[Thegonagle]

17. This is simply beautiful. Reminds me of MN GOP Gov. Arne Carlson opposing Bush's policies. NT

[autorank]

18. Great!

He's a fond memory for many long term Virginians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Linwood_Holton_Jr . He's also Gov. Tim Kaine's father in law.

"Holton was a member of the mountain-valley Republican Party (GOP) that fought the Byrd Organization <segregationists> and was not in favor of welcoming conservative Democrats into the Virginia Republican Party. In 1970, when forced busing was an issue in Virginia, Holton voluntarily placed his children (including future First Lady of Virginia Anne Holton) in the mostly African-American Richmond public schools garnering much publicity. The Republican party, in response, turned their back on him and supported Godwin in 1974, a former conservative Democrat who had turned Republican and who supported "massive resistance" to desegregation.<1><2>"

[jennied]

19. Awesome! I thought this would be on the main page already! Rec, rec, rec!!!

[barack the house]

20. I think when the endorsements are coming out after dark monday we'll soon find a big turn

around.